Funnel



Aug. 15, 1967 FUNNEL 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 22, 1965 ATTORN EYS Aug. 15,' 1967 v J. c. H G 3,335,769

v FUNNEL Filed March 22, 1965 v 1 I v 4 sheetssneet s F I 5 v INVENTOR.

JOHN o. M G I BY ZD/@9 www0@ @mm/2 gm ATTORNEYS FUNNEL Filed March 22, 1965l I 4Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR JOHN` C. ILG

ATTORN EY5 United States Patent O M' 3,335,769 FUNNEL John C. Ilg, Fitzwilliam, N.H., assigner to Elliot Laboratories, Inc., Fitzwlliam, N.H., a corporation of New Hampshire Filed Mar. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 441,565

2 Claims. (Cl. 141-340) This invention relates to (1) a novel filling funnel for filling plastic, collapsible and highly flexible bags having a spout mounted on a side panel thereof and (2) the combination of said funnel and bag. y

My copending patent application Ser. No. 387,367, now Patent No. 3,306,327, describes a novel flexible and collapsible plastic bag for enemas and for use as a hot water bag or ice bag. The bag has a relatively large lling and emptying hollow spout or neck extending from a flat side Wall thereof, the bag being made up of a pair of extru-ded thin, flexible panels of thermoplastic (eg. polyvinyl chloride), heat sealed around their edges.

The internal surface of the hollow spout is tapered and the spout is closed by a closure cap having an end wall and a tapered side wall extending into the spout. A novel bayonet-type twist lock is provided for locking the cap in the spout with the tapered side wall thereof pressed into sealing (leak-proof) engagement with the internal tapered surface of the spout.` The end wall of the cap extends radially outwardly beyond the side wall into a gripping flange.

The spout is made of a molded thermoplastic which is thicker and hence more rigid than the highly llexible extruded side panels of the bag but which is resilient and yieldable enough to provide an excellent seal with the side Wall of the cap.

The positioning of the spout on the flat side wall of the bag provides certain advantages, e.g. permits full collapsibility of the bag and provides a sediment trap for solids to avoid plugging of the outlet opening in the end wall of the cap when administering enemas, such opening providing communication between the bag and the enema tube. i However, placing the spout in this position provides problems in filling the bag. It is extremely difcult and awkward to grasp the bag by its spout during filling without accidently dropping it or spilling the liquid because of the spout position. It is also difcult and awkward to grasp the flexible bag itself without accidently dropping it or spilling the liquid. As a result, frequent accidents and spillage of liquid are diicult to avoid.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel disposable lling funnel by means of which this type of bag can be easily and quickly filled without danger of dropping the bag or accidental spillage.

' It is another object to provide a novel combination of such a funnel and such a bag.

It is yet another object to provide an improved filling funnel.

These objects are achieved by means of a disposable plastic funnel having a hollow, cylindrical neck portion extending downwardly from the narrow end thereof. The neck portion has an external taper corresponding to the internal taper of the spout and locking means for cooperating with locking means in the spout to releasably lock such neck portion in the spout with the external taper thereof pressed into sealing engagement with the 3,335,769 Patented Aug. 15, 1967 ICC inner, resilient tapered surface of the spout to provide a liquid and air-tight seal therebetween.

The neck portion preferably has a horizontal gripping ange extending radially, outwardly from the top thereof.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings for illustrative purposes only of an embodiment of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showing the novel funnel device of the invention applied to the bag during lling of the bag;

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of the neck portion of the funnel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial section in elevation through the funnel device and bag of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a View in perspective of the neck portion of the funnel and the spout of the bag;

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective of the bag with the spout closed by a closure cap for storage;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the bag of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view in perspective of the closure cap of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a View of the bag during administration of enema with the closure cap being replaced by a corresponding cap having an opening in the end wall to which an enema tube is connected.

With reference to the figures, 2 represents a disposable collapsible and flexible thermoplastic bag of the construction described and shown in my aforesaid copending application, to which bag is applied in FIGS. 1 and 3 the funnel member 4 embodying the present invention.

Bag 2 is made up of a pair of flat side panels 6 and 8 of a thin, highly flexible, translucent or transparent ex truded plastic sheet material, such as polyvinyl chloride, heat sealed together along their edges at 10. The seal 10 at the upper and lower ends is wider than along the sides, as shown. A pair of nger slots 12 is provided in the seal 10 at one end 13 and a hole 14 is provided in the seal 10 at the other end 1S of the bag. The end 13 of the bag is tapered at 17.

One side panel 6 of the bag has a hole 16 (FIG. 3) therein spaced slightly from the seal 10 at end 13 of the bag and located about midway between the sides of the bag. Over the hole 16 is located a hollow, molded cylindrical thermoplastic spout 18 having a flange 20 at one end. Flange 20 is heat sealed to the side panel 6, as shown.

The outer end portion of the internal surface of the spout 18 is tapered at 22 and the inner end portion is cylindrical at 24.

The internal surface of the spout 18 is provided with a pair of opposed bayonet lugs 26 (FIGS. 3 and 4). Each lug 26 consists of a thin, at wall 26, extending integrally and radially inwardly from such internal surface and in a circumferential direction, as shown. Lugs 26 are located at the intersection of the internal surfaces 22 and 24 of the spout. The radially inner, circumferentially extending edge 27 of each lug is arcuate (concentric with the spout). The end edges 29 and 31 respectively of each lug wall 26 are parallel and extend circumferentially at an acute angle to the internal surface of the spout, as shown. The acute angle between the edge 29 and the internal spout surface forms an overhang: recess 33.

The spout 18 is made of molded thermoplastic, which may be the same plastic as the bag side panels. The spout wall is thicker and hence more rigid than the side panels 6 and 8. However, it has some flexibility and is resilient. The ange is thinner than the wall of the spout and hence is more flexible so that it can flex with the panel 6.

The funnel member 4 has a funnel shaped portion 28, the narrow end of which extends into a tubular neck 30 (FIG. 3). Neck 30 tapers inwardly as it extends downwardly, as shown. Sealed to and around the periphery of neck 30 is a neck member 32 corresponding in construction to the closure cap described and shown in my aforementioned copending application.

Neck member 32 comprises an externally and internally tapered tubular member 34 from the upper end of which extends radially outwardly a horizontal ange 36.

The tubular neck member 34 is tapered inwardly as it extends downwardly. The taper of the inner surface corresponds to the external taper of neck 30. Neck 3() lits snugly and is sealed (cemented or heat sealed) within t-he top portion of the tubular neck member 34. The tubular member 34 extends downwardly beyond the end of neck 30, as shown.

The funnel member 28 and neck member 32 forming the funnel member 4 are of relatively rigid molded ther- -moplastic material (eg. polystyrene or polyvinyl chlo- Iride). The funnel member 4 is disposable. Neck member 32 may be integral with the neck 30, that is, the entire funnel member, including funnel portion 28 and neck member 32, may be molded in one piece.

The extern-al taper of tubular member 34 corresponds to the internal taper 22 of spout 18 so that when the tubular member 34 is inserted into the spout, as shown in FIG. 3, the outer tapered surface of tubular member 34 is pressed into sealing engagement with the relatively flexible and elastic internal tapered surface 22 of the spout 18.

The lower edge 33 of the tubular member 34 has a pair of opposed, bayonet-type, L-shaped slots 38 therein which cooperate with the lugs 26 of spout 18 to releasably lock the ltubular member 34 in seal position wit-hin spout 18, as shown in FIG. 3 in which position the external tapered surface of tubular member 34 is pressed into tight sealing and hence leak-proof engagement with the internal tapered surface 22 of spout 18, as aforesaid. One leg 40 of each slot 38 extends axially from edge 33 and the other leg 42 extends circumferentially at an angle of about ninety degrees from leg 40 to form an L-shape. The circ-umferentially extending edge 44 of leg 42 lies in a plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member 34. The circumferentially extending edge 46 of leg 42 is spirally disposed with respect to the circumference of tubular member 34 to thereby provide leg 42 with a narrowing taper as it extends from leg 40 to the narrow end 48.

The circumferential dimension of each slot leg 40 is greater than that of each lug 26 and t-he width of the narrow end 48 of slot leg 42 may be about the same size or slightly greater than the thickness of the lug wall.

When the tubular neck member 34 of the funnel 4 is inserted axially into spout 18, the lugs 26 are moved axially into legs 48 of the slots 38 against the edges 44 of the slots. Upon subsequently rotating the funnel and hence the tubular neck member 34 with respect to the spout 18 (in -a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4) the lugs 26 are moved circumferentially into the circumferential slot legs 42 of the slots against t-he narrow ends 48 of legs 42 to releasably lock the funnel on the spout, as shown in FIG. 3.

When the funnel is rotated with respect to the neck, as aforesaid, engagement of the spirally disposed edges 46 of the slot legs 42 with the lugs 26 propel the external tapered surface of the tubular neck member 34 'axially into tight sealing and hence leak-proof engagement with the tapered portion 22 of the relatively flexible and elastic internal spout surface to form an excellent liquid and air-tight seal.

The semi-iiexibility, yield-ability and elasticity of the spout wall provides an excellent sealing effect between the tapered surfaces of the spout and funnel neck member.

The funnel can easily be removed from the spout of the bag merely by twisting it to `unlock it and pulling it out of the spout.

It is easily applied to the spout, as aforesaid, merely by inserting it into the spout and twisting it in an opposite direction to thereby lock it in seal position in the spout.

Because the funnel is locked to the spout in a liquid and air-tight manner, the bag can be supported by the funnel during filling, as shown in FIG. l. In FIG. 1, the funnel and lattached bag are supported by a stand 50 having lan upstanding rod 51 with a ring 52 mounted on rod 51 for vertical adjustment.

Beca-use of the exibility of the bag it can be attached to the funnel, as aforesaid, and then deformed suiciently to move it downwardly through the ring 52 to t-he position shown in FIG. 1 in which the funnel is supported by the ring, or the funnel can be inserted in the ring and the bag thereafter -attached thereto.

In either case, it can be seen that the bag can be easily filled while supported in this manner wit-hout danger of spillage or dropping the bag.

Furthermore, if desired, the funnel with attached bag can be easily held in one hand in a number of ways while filling lthe bag. By virtue of its shape, it can be firmly gripped with one hand wit-h little danger of spillage. On the other hand, it is quite clear that without the funnel, it is very difficult and awkward to hold the bag while it is being filled without dropping it or spilling the filling liquid or solids, e.g. barium solution or dispersion or barium meal in the case of barium enemas.

After the bag has been filled, the funnel is removed and replaced by a relatively rigid, disposable plastic closure cap 54 (FIGS. 5, 6 and 7) having an end wall 56 and a tubular side wall 58 which is identical in construction to the tubular member 34. The end wall 56 extends radially outwardly beyond side wall 58 at 60.

The closure cap 54 is exactly like the neck member 32 of the funnel and m-ay be made of the same plastic, e.g. polystyrene, except that the flanged end or top is closed, i.e., the ange 36 of neck member 32 extends integrally across the top of the tubular member 34. Thus, the closure cap 54 can be releasably locked into the spout 18 in a liquid and air-tight manner and removed in the same way 4as the neck member 32 of the funnel.

The cap 54 is used for storage of enema uid or meal and when the bag is to be used as a hot water Ibag or ice bag.

When used for administering an enema, the cap S4 is replaced by a closure cap 62 (FIG. 8) exactly like cap 54 except that it has a small opening in the end wall 56 for receiving an enema tube 64 in a liquid and air-tight manner. Closure cap 62 is exactly like the closure cap described and shown in my aforesaid copending application. The bag is hung in the position shown in FIG. 8 during administration ofthe enemas by means of hook 66 and hole 14 in the bag.

I claim:

1. A disposable plastic filling funnel and a flat, disposable, collapsible, exible plastic bag, said funnel comprising a funnel portion and a hollow neck portion extending downwardly from the narrow end of said Ifunnel portion, a horizontal liange extending radially outwardly from the upper end of said neck portion, said neck portion being tapered inwardly as it extends downwardly from said flange, the lower edge of said neck portion having a pair of L-shaped slots, one leg of each slot extending axially from said lower edge and the other leg extending froml said one leg in a circumferential direction, said bag comprising a pair of side panels sealed along -their margins and having a hollow, plastic spout extending sideways from a side panel of said bag, the inner surface of said spout Ibeing tapered in a manner corresponding to the 3,335,769 5 6 taper of said neck portion of said funnel, said tapered References Cited inner surface being resilient, said tapered neck portion UNITED STATES PATENTS being adapted to -be received in Said spout, the inner surface of said spout having means cooperating with said l 4861762 Camden 141-339 X slots to lock said neck portion in said spout with said 5 9281138 LeWlS Pik-341 X p `1,018,228 2/1912 Appleby et al 141-341 X tapered periphery of said neck portlon pressed 1nto seal 1 226 722 5/1917 Sulliva 141 331 X o .l f J i n isrgoungaeement w1th sald tapered inner sur ace o sald 2,168,395 8/1939 Damkroger 141-340 X 2. A funnel according to claim 1, `the lower edge of said other leg being inclined upwardly as it extends cirl LAVERNE D GEIGER Pnma'y Examiner' cumferentially from said one leg. H. S. BELL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DISPOSABLE PLASTIC FILLING FUNNEL AND A FLAT, DISPOSABLE, COLLAPSIBLE, FLEXIBLE PLASTIC BAG, SAID FUNNEL COMPRISING A FUNNEL PORTION AND A HOLLOW NECK PORTION EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE NARROW END OF SAID FUNNEL PORTION, A HORIZONTAL FLANGE EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARDLY FROM THE UPPER END OF SAID NECK PORTION, SAID NECK PORTION BEING TAPERED INWARDLY AS IT EXTENDS DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID FLANGE, THE LOWER EDGE OF SAID NECK PORTION HAVING A PAIR OF L-SHAPED SLOTS, ONE LEG OF EACH SLOT EXTENDING AXIALLY FROM SAID LOWER EDGE AND THE OTHER LEG EXTENDING FROM SAID ONE LEG IN A CIRCUMFERENTIAL DIRECTION, SAID BAG COMPRISING A PAIR OF SIDE PANELS SEALED ALONG THEIR MARGINS AND HAVING A HOLLOW, PLASTIC SPOUT EXTENDING SIDEWAYS FROM A SIDE PANEL OF SAID BAG, THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID 